New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-30

IBY CABLE TO TIE TKIBUNEl
Copyrigtt: 1887 BY the Ne,0- York 7flbun,.
/ LONDON Dee 20.-What Mr.. Gladstone said at
Dover about free trade is far the most important
part OF an important speech. Ills line IL what
might have been expected. lie is delighted TO sec
Che Tories embarrassed by the raising of that ques-
ton at a moment so inoprortune for the Tory
Inionist alliance Most men thought that Lord
salisbury at Derby declared plainly against pro
lection Not so his rival. who accuses him OF
speallinc in ambiguous tones ziezagginS tins way
and that and leaving his hearers in labyrinth OF
confusion We'll, nobody can accuse Mr.. Gladstone
Of ambiguity this particular question. lie
thinks that the condition of England under pro-
tection was dsgraceful-tbat is from the Conquest
bill Mr.. Cobdcn came-and he traces all recent
blessings to free trade including continuous
strengthening of loyalty to the throne and at
,achment to the law. lie derides Mr.. GoSchen for
MS supposed readiness to abandon free trade and
predicts that Mr.. John Brght-thOugha perhaps,
ne alone among the Unionists-will stand 10y his
tag.
so far as the present Parliamentary majority
is concerned. | cannot" says this convinced Cob
denitc. regard free trade secure lie hints
that the Irish Natonalists may vote for protection.
and if they should declares he would find no fault
In the end it is the of the English people on
whom Mr.. Gladstone relies to prevent revival of
All this is sl>ilfully said with a view TO foment
disorder in the cnemy's ranks.
Not less skilfu from another point of view is
his silence about President Ceveand's message
His ausion TO the Irish Nationasts had double
edge. Home Rule once granted, the Liberals will
be in much trouble as the Tories about fair
trade If anything is certain it is certain that an
Irish Parliament would adopt policy of protcc-
ton. The future of Ireland agricultural
country is regarded by every economist as hopeless
Her one hope of prosperity lies in manufactures
and her one hope of establishing manufactures
lies in protection.
Passages of Mr.. Gladstone's speech at Dover are
praised even BY the Tories The effect as whole
would be thought surprising coming from anybody
Else but people have ceased TO be surprised at any
tour de force" he attempts There is. of course,
much controversial matter in the speech. but what
admired is the freshness, vigor and confidence he
displays The stupid outragcs with which the
Tories Of Doycr-the dullest Of their knd-"el-
tomed Mr.. Gladstone ore condemned by none so
severely as by the Tories themselves. The Dover
tougls have done him a service so manifest that
locaI Liberals are accused of organizing the attack
This is ridicuous but it shows clearly how dam
aging 10 the Tory this incident is thought
Mr. Greenwood, who speak. for the Bourbon wing
Of the party. is the most energetic Of all in eludi-
ating his allies. lie denOunccS the treatment Of
,ir. Gladstone by certain Conservative r0ughS, as
BE- calls them, as abOminaby stupid and barbarous
Nh Gladstone'S choice OF FolkestOnc port Of
departure instead Of Dover, the most direct and
best route is a COM limcnt to Sir Edward WatlIn.
with whom he lately renewed friendly relations at
Chester. FOikesJone i Sir Edwards pet town and
is served ls steamers belonging to bis Iailwaythe
Southeastern. so Mr.. Gladstone missed the
chance Of crossing the Channel in lour from
Dover 70 Calais. 1t is the Channel Tunnel scheme
over which he and Sir Edward Wat
Kin shook andS. Yet he quotes and ap-
proves IN lis Dover speech sen
tence Of an Italian writer who comments on the
favorable position Of England as com
pared with the continental powers,
geographical position Of the greatest advantage
which, combined with her naval ascondcncy,
places her in the unique condition Of being able
10 injurc eycrr other Power while secure herself
THIS position of unique advantage is precisely
WHAT the Channel tunnel would destroy.
Today j, the Grand Old Mans scvenjy-niath
birthday. His chief London organ, tired Of keep
in his obituary notice pigeon-holed, publishes Ii
tn morning under the title \ Retrospect NO
other journal attains to this dehcacy IN conpI-
mcnt. His absence on the Continent may prevent
III usual now Cf tclcgrams Of congratulations but
even his enemies arc proud Of nm.
The action Of the Land Commissioners respect
ine Irish rents sat tisncs nobody The head OF the
Land Commission. Mr. O'Ilagan. j. the least Sa'ls-
fed II all and ne refuses to unite with his col
leagues in this act. National journals Wlth one
accord condemn the reduction as beng HSuH-
ciant. while the landlords equally. OF course cry
c,nlscation. What these two gentlemen have
done is pcrhauS the most striking case ever known
of State interference with a particular class OF
,ylo ~
rdnce rents bv a general decree Of the commission
was known TO exist but none expected TO sec II
uscd in this way. Every landlord IN Ireland
where the rent las been judicially fixed Sihc'
1881. finds il reduced from to q per cent. I'M
nginc the sensation if tvo gentlemen appoint"
at Albany had suddenly announced yesterday TIA,
lousc rents i'm Ncw-Yogl; he'd been cut down "h
round on an average Of II per cent. nat mas
bappcncl in Ireland is analogous TO that. no
wonder Won once more hear the Irish landlords cry
OFT. Their fate under Tory rule Is hard'' '''"
when the Liberals were III power
An official denial now appears that l'of" '""
dolub Churcbirs visit to ST. Petersburg mas any
official character and The English Foreign once %
20 much concerned BY the attentions paid h'"' !"
The Russian capital as TO declare that these a'So
are not official. His presence IN ~. Ir'',"
burrr odss .bis writer. Z" is wholly without the
knowledge Of the Foreign Once. Ills ioiu9N.P
alone knows why he gave up the tour TO SPAN
for visit TO Northern lattndes' hut IL Is no'
Lord Ran ioph's fault if the Russians chooSe 10 "
civil 70 him. nor has he encouraged III any way
the notion that he had diplomatic mission
has on the contrary, refused 70 oe '''''' ''"1r
telling all journalists that hiS ViSi' ""9 pui'S
private. !" v"
OPPOSING THE COPPER SYNDICATE
PARIS, Dcc 2g.-The municipal authorities "
uettfored Covernmcnt O adopt measures VIII